Betty J Dodson

Funeral Services for Betty J. Dodson will be conducted from the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. with Reverend Gene Layne officiating. Following the traditional funeral, cremation will take place and a family inurnment will be held in the Union Cemetery at Hollinger, Nebraska at a later date.

Betty Jean Dodson, 80 years of age, of Funk, Nebraska, passed away on Friday, February 20, 2015 at Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege.  Betty was born on May 9, 1934 on the family farm in Furnas County, near Hollinger, the only child born to J. Howard and Bessie (Snyder) Payne.  She was baptized as a young girl and became a member of the Evangelical Free Church at Hollinger.  She received her primary education from Hollinger and then attended Beaver City High School, graduating with the class of 1952.

On December 26, 1953, Betty was united in marriage to Ralph Dodson at Hollinger.  To this union four children were born: Cindy, Connie, David and Jill.  The couple made their home in Holdrege for a short period of time before moving to a farm six miles north and one mile east of Funk.  Betty was employed as a nurse's aide at the Brewster Hospital for many years.  She then focused her efforts assisting Ralph on the farm and thoroughly enjoyed being a homemaker.  In 1975 they moved into Funk.  For many years, Betty and Ralph could be found throughout central Nebraska attending country dances on Saturday night together with special friends.  Betty was preceded in death by Ralph on April 13, 2012.

Through the years, Ralph and Betty enjoyed attending the Emmaus Evangelical Free Church north of Funk.  She enjoyed gardening, tending to her flowers, sewing and playing cards.  Most of all, Betty loved the time spent with her family.  Whether it was when they would return home, or when she and Ralph traveled out of state to visit them, treasured memories were created.

Betty is survived by; her three daughters:  Cindy Peterson and her husband, Jay of Wilmington, Ohio, Connie Tripe and her husband, Ron of Camarillo, California, and Jill Mastera and her husband, John of New Canaan, Connecticut; six grandchildren:  Emily Willeford and her husband, Waylon, Alicia Zermeno and her husband, Cesar, Adam Peterson, Jenna Davison and her husband, Matthew and Amanda and Jordan Mastera; one great-granddaughter, Ava Peterson; two brothers-in-law:  Jack Dodson and his wife, Mary of Emmett, Idaho, Richard "Dick" Dodson and his wife, Barb of Elwood, Nebraska; sisters-in-law:  Betty Steinkruger and her husband, Leland of Franklin, Nebraska and Gerry Dodson of Holdrege and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Besides her parents and her husband, Ralph, she was preceded in death by her son, David Dodson in 2002; sisters-in-law:  Gladys Faye Dodson and Twyla Dahlgren; and brothers-in-law:  Raymond, Glen, Duane "Zeke", Allen and Bill Dodson.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Betty's honor and kindly suggested to the Funk School Community Center, c/o of the Phelps County Community Foundation, 504 4 ^th Ave., Holdrege, Nebraska 68949.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.